The Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition, BARC, is having a raffle to raise money for their amazing organization.

They are a non-profit corporation dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating Bernese Mountain Dogs from dog brokers, dog auctions, puppy mills, and any other dangerous, exploitative or abusive situation.

BARC, Inc. places these dogs in loving pet homes as spayed or neutered companions. This wonderful group is who Lisa and I went through to adopt our beautiful boy, Logan. They rely on donations to be able to keep doing the work they do.

BARC is having a fundraising raffle offering some really cool prizes. Everything from books, clothing, gift baskets, jewelry, ltd. edition prints, to wood carvings. To enter you buy tickets, single or in books, and choose the coveted prize you’re seeking. The biggest problem is deciding what item(s) to choose,  there are so many great prizes.

On the site it has the raffle ending tomorrow, but it has been extended through this Friday, October 3rd.  So run, don’t walk, over to BARC’s raffle page to buy your tickets. You do need to send in a check for the tickets, as long as you get it mailed on or before October 3rd you’re fine.

This is a win-win situation, your donation goes to a great organization who rescues and saves innocent dogs, and in the process you get the chance to win a terrific prize.

If you’re in the Southern CA. area, here’s a great fun filled event for the whole family. Clear your schedule for October 4th and head on over to the north side of Marine Stadium, the grassy park on the waterfront.

Haute Dogs’ St. Francis Day events in Long Beach (Calif.) will include the BIG Small Dog Festival, dog & cat adoptions, vendor fair, Obama/McCain Look-Alike Contest for pets, one of the nation’s largest Blessings of the Animals (w/ 11 exotic animals) and a Chihuahua Beauty Contest!

For all you Chihuahua owners who want to register for the beauty contest, you can send in an entry online or fill one out at the event. If you register in advance it’s $10, or $20 on the day of the event.

Pop on over to Haute Dogs’ to check out the schedule of events, directions, and everything else you need to know.

I’ve heard of people getting arrested for many reasons, but here’s a new one, a couple arrested for carrying chocolate. Not once, but twice in less than two months.

The couple runs Living Libations, a company that sells beauty care products and natural food.  After the first arrest they armed themselves with a certified letter from the Department of Justice. The letter clearly outlined the organic chocolate they were carting across the U.S. border was,just that, chocolate.

The couple was arrested and charged with exporting a controlled substance.

“It was absolutely crazy,” said Artemis, 37. “We don’t know what it is that sets the dogs off, but it does.”

This was Sept. 11. Just one month earlier, on Aug. 3, the pair had attempted to board a plane bound for Minnesota at Pearson airport.

“I’m a botanical formulator, so we’re carrying all this strange stuff - little vials of jasmine, vanilla.

“We have a lot of exotic stuff,” she said.

They had also packed some raw, organic chocolate - made of unrefined, unprocessed cacao, maca root, hemp seeds and goji berries.

“At first the (customs officials) said, ‘Oh, you guys are just holistic.’ Then the dogs came.”

The animals went nuts over the chocolate. A rapid drug test was done, which returned a false positive result for hashish.

The couple hired attorney, Marcy Segal, who arranged for secondary forensic testing. The test proved the chocolate was simply chocolate, with no added ingredients. Once again, showing the original results were false positive.

Their attorney, Marcy Segal, stated “Clearly, these NIK (rapid drug) tests are unreliable. Whether or not anything is going to be done about it is yet to be determined.”

My biggest issue with this scenario is the use of perfectly good chocolate being put into a body lotion.  What a waste!

I received an email this morning warning the Swifter WetJet is potentially toxic to dogs.  The email tells about a dog that died due to their owner using this product. It claims anti-freeze, known to be toxic to dogs, is one of the ingredients.

Before I post anything I always try and verify the information,  sometimes it turns out to be  unfounded. I don’t know where the original letter started, or if it was done as a joke, but there seems to be no factual evidence backing it up.

Unfortunately, the rumor spreads quickly around the internet. These types of jokes prey on the feelings of honest people, knowing they can be used to help get the word out.

This is the original letter that is going around the internet.

Recently my neighbor had to have their 5-year old German Shepherd dog put down due to liver failure.The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago,so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause was.

The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside,and when he’s outside, someones with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe.

My neighbor started going through all the items in the house. When he got to the Swiffer Wetjet he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated “may be harmful to small children and animals”.

He called the company to ask what the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out that antifreeze is one of the ingredients (actually, he was told it’s a compound which is one molecule away from antifreeze).

Therefore, just by the dog walking on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking its paws, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy his liver.

Soon after his dog’s death, his housekeepers’ two cats also died of liver failure. She also used the Swiffer Wetjet for quick cleanups on her floors. Necropsies weren’t done on the cats, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don’t lose their animals.

This is an anonymous message, it’s unverifiable and filled with untruths.  Go take a look at the snopes.com site, where they did a great job of going through each accusation and breaking it down.  As you’ll see, there does not seem to be any truth to this letter.

In July I posted an article, Leashing In Those Huge Vet Bills, which offered some money saving tips. One of the tips was about pet insurance,  it was the one that got the most reaction from our readers. Some thought it was worthwhile, while others felt it was too expensive, didn’t give enough reimbursement, and didn’t cover enough items (like hereditary conditions).

Recently Lisa and I started thinking about getting pet insurance. We never really thought about until adopting Logan, our Berner.   The reason being,  we know that Bernese Mountain dogs are very prone to hip dysplasia and cancer.  I started doing some digging around to see what I could come up with.

I came across a great independent site where you can review, side by side, many different companies and compare what they offer.

There is a relatively new plan, PetPlan, that originated in the UK and has recently become available in the US. According to one of their PR agent’s, PetPlan is different because it includes coverage of hereditary conditions.

Perhaps it is time to take a new look at the value of pet health insurance. For the 62% of Americans with pets, there are new products on the market with high standards and value that can sharply reduce the impact of continually rising veterinarian charges that can force strapped pet owners to euthanize their beloved pets or go into debt to pay the bills.

Most pet owners think they don’t think they need it - until illness or accidents happen to their cat or dog. Consumer advisors have said that the cost of the policy- generally about $300 a year - is not worth it, mainly because traditionally, most plans reject too many claims, reimburse only a small portion of the ones they accept, and don’t cover the hereditary conditions of pure bred pets that rack up the highest medical bills.

Americans spend $42 billion a year on their pets yet only 1% of pet owners have pet insurance. Overseas, in the UK and Australia, where there are quality insurance plans, about 20% of pet owners have policies.

Petplan has been a popular pet insurance in the UK, Canada and Australia for over 30 years. Now that it is available in the United States, it has raised the bar for coverage and customer service so high that some other plans are taking note and upping their service and coverage.

I took a look at PetPlan on the Pet Insurance Review site to see what other people have written about this company.  On the site both PetPlan US and PetPlan Canada were reviewed.  Surprisingly, with very different result.

Those who have used PetPlan Canada were not not happy and overall it got a 4.47 out of 10 rating.  However, those who have used PetPlan US gave it a 9.7 out of 10.  An exceptionally high satisfactory rating.

I contacted the company to find out the reason for this discrepancy. The good news is that they are entirely separate companies, not related in any way.

As a matter of fact, as of September 1st Petplan UK terminated the relationship with Petplan Canada and there is effectively no Petplan Canada as of this time.

The company has been renamed and now operates as Petsecure. The reason they receive such terrible reviews is that their policies are completely different from those offered both in the UK and in the US.

Most notable they experience rate, which means that a pet owner is punished every time they submit a claim and see their premiums raised significantly.

While we haven’t decided on anything yet, we’ll definitely keep PetPlan in mind when making a decision in the near future.

There’s a wonderful new site, Adopt-a-Pet, which focuses on permanent pet adoption. Victoria Stilwell, host of “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet is helping out.

Purina and Adopt-a-Pet.com, a non-profit pet adoption charity, worked together to create a “Permanent Pet Adoption” checklist, which provides tips to ensure a successful adoption.

The sad truth, unfortunately, is not all adoptions end with happy endings. Too many times dogs are adopted without fully realizing what a huge responsibility dog ownership is.  Cute puppies grow up, dogs don’t always listen, time is needed for care and grooming, and the costs involved can be very expensive.

The key to changing this is education. That is the crucial factor in keeping pets in forever homes. The checklist below, info compiled using a survey of over 180 shelters, is an invaluable resource.

Before You Adopt Give This List Some Thought:

1. When you adopt, you need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life, no matter what that entails, just as you would with a child.

2. Be prepared for a pet to affect other parts of your life for as long as you have the pet (can be up to 15 years for a dog and 20 years for cat). Your pet’s well-being will have to be considered in all kinds of decisions, including travel, social life, relocating to a new home, adopting other pets, having children, etc.

3. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live, especially if you rent or belong to a homeowners’ association.

4. Make any necessary modifications to your yard and fence, if you have one, to provide for your pet’s safety and to prevent your pet from escaping.

5. Never give a pet as a gift.

6. Choose a pet appropriate to your living situation and lifestyle. Figure out what size, age, and energy-level pet is most appropriate for you.

7. Never adopt a pet on a whim or because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight. Do your research and carefully consider all the aspects and implications of adopting before you make a decision.

8. If you’re adopting a pet for your kids, understand that the responsibility is yours. Kids, by their nature, often tire of things that were once new and exciting, and this includes their pets. You will most likely end up being the one who provides most of the pet’s care.

9. Plan for a several-week adjustment period during which there will be challenges.

10. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation. (Walk dogs according to individual need, provide playtime and appropriate toys for both dogs and cats, spend time just petting and talking to your pet, include pet in family activities.)

You can also watch Victoria Stilwell, on video, as she reviews the top 10 list.

Besides the terrific top 10 list, the site is filled with valuable information and cool links. So, whether you’re looking to adopt or not, it’s worth stopping by and checking out Adopt-a-Pet.

If you’re having trouble watching the video in your reader, you can watch it here!

This is truly a historic week when it comes to puppy mill reform.  A few days ago the Puppy Mill Bill was passed by the PA House of Representatives and is on the way to the Senate.

Now, there is new legislation seeking to close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act, which allows puppies to be sold via the internet without Federal oversight.

WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend federal lawmakers for introducing bills that will crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the United States - where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter. The legislation will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online and directly to the public to escape licensing and regulation.

The legislation - known as the “Puppy Uniform Protection Statute” (PUPS), or “Baby’s Bill” in honor of rescued puppy mill survivor Baby who is the subject of Jana Kohl’s new book A Rare Breed of Love - was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday as H.R. 6949 by Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Terry Everett (R-Ala.). A companion bill, S. 3519, was also introduced in the Senate by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

The statute is pretty long, but worth reading, so check out the Humane Society site to read in full.  Once again we’ve proven when dog owners become a united front we are a powerful lobbying group.  We cannot, and will not,  be ignored.

I want to thank Gizmo for giving me a bark to let me know about the new legislation.

Times have been a bit tough lately,  people are cutting back on their spending. When this happens, usually the hardest hit groups are not-for-profits which run solely on contributions.

Take for instance Power Paw’s Assistance Dogs, they rely on donations and fundraisers to keep them going.

The group has 45 dogs in training. Each year, it matches 10 golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers with children and adults with disabilities.

“We are publicly supported, and we are holding our breath as to what’s coming,” Abels said.

Or look at Paws With A Cause, the group that trained Buddy, the dog who  called 911 after his owner had a seizure.

About 80 percent of funding for Paws with a Cause is provided through workforce-donation campaigns, Davis said.

As employers slash jobs, though, fewer people are able to donate.

The dogs pick up dropped items, push elevator buttons, pay cashiers or even pull off pairs of socks.

“So many times people with disabilities don’t go out in public because it’s not accessible to them,” Abels said. “With a dog with them, they are able to become active members of the community.”

It’s so easy for those of us without disabilities to take these daily tasks for granted, something  we don’t give an afterthought. We don’t think about what it would be like if we couldn’t pick something up because we dropped it,  or what would happen if a fire started and we couldn’t hear the alarm.

These dogs not only give persons with disabilities a level of independence they could not achieve on their own, they also react in life-threatening situations. What would have happened to Buddy’s owner if he wasn’t around?  Scary thought.

If the picture above doesn’t make you scrape together a few dollars to donate,  I haven’t done my job very well.  Come on Dogsters, let’s help support the service dogs that support us.

The Obama article was posted  simply for the express purpose of letting  his dog loving supporters know it’s out there.

Since there is no Canines For McCain, if someone starts one please let me know, here’s what I have found for his dog loving supporters. After all…turnabout is fair play.

There was a poll done recently to find out which candidate pet owners were more likely to support. The winner, ladies and gentlemen, was McCain.

An AP-Yahoo! News poll found that pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain’s corner.

“I think a person who owns a pet is a more compassionate person - caring, giving, trustworthy. I like pet owners,” said Janet Taylor of Plymouth, Mass.

Taylor, who described herself as a retired stay-at-home wife, owns two cats, Lady Jane Taylor and Mr. Tommy Katz.

Richard Powell, 79, of Spokane, Wash., whose dog passed away last fall, said if a person owns a pet that “tells you that they’re responsible at least for something, for the care of something.”

He said pet ownership wouldn’t make a difference in his vote, but if a president owns a pet, then “I’m glad to know they like animals.”

Christina Duffney, a spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club, said “you usually connect with things that you’re familiar with, so that could be a part of” why pet owners lean toward McCain.

It also found that cat lovers lean towards McCain as well, that’s for all the Catsters out there.

If your pup wants to show his support for a candidate they can order one of these cool looking shirts, available for both candidates.

I usually keep politics, religion, breed, and dog food preference out of my commentary.  However,  the great debate 2008 is just too hard to ignore.

Staying on top of the news also means keeping up with the latest websites and reporting on them. As for my personal opinion, I prefer to be like Switzerland, neutral.

There’s a new site out for the dog loving Obama supporters, Bark Obama!, where you can get up to the minute political news and commentary.

Go check out what they’re barking about.  Feel free to give me a woof back with your opionions, please keep those wagging tongues civil.